“I think it would be best if we got married.”
Molly pauses, making a muffled sound of confusion around a mouthful of lo mein.
Sherlock scrolls on his phone a bit more, his eyes glued to the device. “Married, Molly. I really would like it if we did.”
Molly swallows and carefully puts down her chopsticks.
“Are you asking, Sherlock?” Her voice is quiet and carefully neutral. He glances up at her, finally.
“It wasn’t a question. I was just…” his hand flutters in the air a bit and if trying to find the answer in the air between them.“Posing a hypothetical.”
“Ah. Okay.” She goes back to her food and out of the corner of her eye she sees him fidget in his seat and she refrains from smirking at the action.
“So, hypothetically, what would your feelings be?” he asks in the worst pantomime of calmness she’s seen since whistling and stuffing hands in pockets.
“Well, why do you feel we should get married rather than stay as we are?”
“Taxes, for one. Insurances, for another. There’s several insurance policies that I have to my name with additional funds in an account that Mycroft currently manages, as well as stock options. Additionally, I would infinitely prefer it if you were listed as the legal next of kin, should something happen.”
“This is still hypothetical, right? You’re not planning on dying again, are you?”
“Not without telling you, darling. Yes, still, purely hypothetical.” He fiddles with his phone. “I believe that traditionally, a change of titles is involved and I find that I prefer the title of ‘husband’ than ‘boyfriend’.”
“You mean you’d rather I say things like ‘oh, do come in, my husband is waiting in the sitting room’ or ‘oh, have you met my husband’ or ‘my husband was just being rather brilliant?’”
“Yup, exactly like that.”
“And I suppose you also like the idea of presenting me as ‘Mrs. Holmes’, then.” She drops her voice to an imitation of his. “ ‘And this is Mrs. Holmes. Why yes, Mrs. Holmes was just giving me the results of that analysis. Mrs. Holmes, I’d quite like to take you home now.’ “ She waggles her eyebrows lecherously. “Hmm, maybe I quite like that last one.”
Sherlock looks scandalized. “I would not sound like that! But yes, while archaic and perhaps a bit possessive, I do find it irrationally appealing that we would share a last name. Though, if you wanted to keep yours, I suppose I could change mine to Hooper.”
“Well, we could always come up with a compromise. Isn’t that a thing now? Like a mushing of our last names.” She presses a finger to her mouth, pretending to be in deep thought. “We could be the Hoolmes? Or maybe you would prefer Holper? Oh I know! What about Mister and Doctor Sherlockandmolly?” She bites her bottom lip as she grins widely at him.
Sherlock rolls his eyes at her. “Very funny.”
Molly laughs and leans over to place a kiss on his lips. “I really love it when you pout.” She places her hand in his, rubbing her thumb against his knuckles. Her smile softens. “I don’t think that you need to worry, though. I would like to take on your last name. Doctor Holmes has a nice ring to it, right?”
He squeezes her fingers back. “Yes, it does.”
She kisses his cheek and goes back to her food, and he goes back to his phone.
“Sherlock?”
“Mm?” He is taking a sip of the tea now.
“For the record, though: non-hypothetically, if you ever actually asked, I would say yes.”
“Good to know. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
I’ve been messing w/ my new doodle marker set and so here’s a (super rough) sketch and a drabble.
For miabicicletta for being lovely every day.
